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Category: Catholic Homeschooling

The prospect of educating one’s children in your faith can be simultaneously thrilling and frightening. If you cannot afford a good Catholic school, then homeschooling is always an option. The truth is that in order to approach the possibility with confidence, a good deal of advance knowledge and information should be obtained. Continue reading the article that follows to get some great advice about how to avoid common homeschool pitfalls.

It is easier for children to remain focused if they can take frequent breaks. Long periods of studying isn’t going help them become excited to learn anything. Schedule in some activity time to break up the monotony of reading. This will be to the benefit of everyone involved.

While most states require that homeschooling programs teach a standardized core curriculum, the fact that you are working one-on-one with your student also usually translates to significantly more free time. Consider allowing your child to choose which elective courses they want to take to fill this time, or hire a tutor to supplement comprehension in the tougher subjects.

Create your own flash cards. There is no need to waste money on expensive sets of flash cards when you can do it yourself. All you need to make your own are some index cards and a marker. Besides saving money, this technique also allows you to tailor the flash cards to your child’s specific needs.

Create a budget for homeschooling expenses. Take advantage of free resources such as libraries, the internet and other homeschooling families. Have a different account with a certain amount for each kid. There may be additional costs and expenses, so factor this in as well.

Friendship is an important part of growing up and should be encouraged. This is especially important to children who are being homeschooled. To help your child develop healthy relationships with others, get them involved in the community. This can be accomplished through volunteering, attending homeschooling cooperatives or even playing sports.

Learn the governing rules of homeschooling in your state. Each state will have specific laws concerning how a parent can home-school their theirhome-school their kids. For example, some states mandate that a homeschool is listed as a private school within their state. While other states mandate that homeschooled children are given standardized testing in certain grades. By knowing your state’s laws, you can ensure that you are following your state’s mandates as they pertain to homeschooling.

If you eventually plan to transfer your children back into a regular school program, then make sure that your homeschooling program prepares them for that. See if you can get a copy of the school curriculum for the year they will re-enter the system to ensure that they will be on track with or ahead of their class. Furthermore, have them study on the traditional school schedule, lunches and all.

Think of yourself as a guide rather than a lecturer in the homeschooling environment. The truth is, you are probably going to come across topics that you don’t understand very well. Have fun learning with your little one and don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know; let’s research it!” when a difficult question arises.

When homeschooling you do not necessarily need to set up your home class exactly like a traditional classroom, although you do need some of the same materials. The kitchen or dining room table can serve as a desk. You will need a chalkboard or whiteboard, art materials and other important learning tools.

There can be no doubt that homeschooling is a scary, exciting and potentially extremely rewarding process. The best way for any parent to approach the process wisely is to study the topic extensively before deciding to choose this route. With any luck, the piece above has provided some useful tips to make the choice as clear as it can be.

Catholics have been honoring the timeless tradition of homeschooling for hundreds of years. For some students, attending public school in a typical classroom simply isn’t enough to engage and educate them. Others have special needs that cannot be met in public schools. When private schools aren’t an option, many are turning to homeschooling as a way to protect students from subpar education and provide them with unique learning opportunities. Whatever your reason for considering homeschooling, the tips below should help you along the way.

Textbooks are not the only way to learn. Let your child read novels, newspapers, blogs and even comic books. Once your children are mature enough, current events can lead to some very interesting discussions that will help them learn how to develop arguments as well as analytical skills. Having them read different materials will help them to get a more well-rounded education. There are many good Catholic texts and resources available.

You don’t have to be perfect! Even teachers make mistakes, and it’s all a part of the learning process for yourself and your children. Take your time, relax and know that you can teach your kids a lot when you do flub. The more mistakes you make, the better a teacher you will become.

Consider digital options for your textbooks and reading materials. E-readers are quite affordable and easily accessible. Downloading books is far cheaper than purchasing print and easily takes up less room. Granted, there is not a resale option for the digital textbooks; however, there is a lot to be said for having reference books after the fact.

Homeschooling gives kids a chance to take advantages of opportunities not found in packed, ailing public schools. In order to make sure your children are progressing, test them with your state’s tests. If your child is struggling, use a tutor in that selected subject.

Write down a list of all the reasons why you have chosen homeschooling for your kids. Start off with a list of the pros and cons of public schools in your area. Next, write down how you’re going to overcome those cons and include the pros in your own classroom. Subsequently, create milestones and goals you want your kids to reach as you teach them. Create a timeline for those goals so you can be sure they’re attained.

Think of yourself as a guide rather than a lecturer in the homeschooling environment. The truth is, you are probably going to come across topics that you don’t understand very well. Have fun learning with your little one and don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know; let’s research it!” when a difficult question arises.

Know your shortcomings. It is unlikely that any parent can singlehandedly teach their child everything they need to know from kindergarten through 12th grade. There are several options for upper-level courses. For instance, online high school and distance learning programs can help your child succeed in the later grades and prepare for the GED and college.

To ensure that your child learns a lot of information, use a unit study method. With this method you study a single topic thoroughly before moving on to another topic. Therefore, you can generate a main focus for your child. You might spend some time on a unit about classical music, for example. When the 6 weeks is over, go to a classical music concert with your child. This will leave a lasting impression on your child that they will never forget.

To ensure that your homeschooling program is successful, you need to treat your home like a real school. That means that your students should follow a regular schedule and should be prepared for each lesson to start. That also means that they should be quizzed regularly to ensure that they are comprehending and retaining everything they learn.

Homeschooling allows your child to learn in a more interesting and fun way. Your child is not tied to a textbook and can enjoy reading autobiographies and interesting books about history. Trips to the library and the zoo can be great learning experiences, and a great time for your child to ask questions.

Before or after homeschooling, you can get your children to help around the house. Giving your child a short list of household tasks is a great way to teach them responsibility. It is also an excellent way to teach them to pick up after themselves, and it could make less housework for you.

Search around your area for homeschooling resources. Depending on where you live, you could gain access to lots of cultural events at a low price, such as museum tours and opera. In addition, there may be a club or online forum dedicated to homeschooling parents in your area. This allows you to gain some helpful advice from others and even share your own.

Have faith in yourself as a parent/teacher. You don’t need to be a priest to teach good religious values and morals to your children. Network with other parents in your diocese and attend local homeschool events as well.

No matter what your motivations are for considering home schooling, it’s best to go into it fully prepared. This is an important decision and you must determine the best way to ensure your child is afforded all the educational opportunities available. Hopefully this article has inspired you to move forward with your dreams of homeschooling your child.